Uplift: The Bra in America

Front Cover
University of Pennsylvania Press, Oct 22, 2002 - Business & Economics - 243 pages

Over the years the bra has been stereotyped as an object of seduction, glamour, and even oppression. In Uplift: A History of the Bra in America Jane Farrell-Beck and Colleen Gau use this item of clothing to gauge the social history of women and to understand the business history of fashion. Viewing fashion as a means to entertainment, self-creation, and everyday art, the authors illuminate the effect the brassiere has had on women's lives—their style, health, and economic opportunity.

Rich in examples from advertising, movies, and other areas of popular culture, Uplift moves beyond featherbones and fiberfill to provide a sense of the dynamic relationship of the bra to wider issues in society.

 

Contents

Brassieres Win a Niche in Fashion II
11
Breasts Lost and Found
34
Brassieres Rise Stocks Fall
58
S Dutiful Brassieres
82
Boom and Busts
112
Ban the Bra? 139 Wondering About Bras
161
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